Idul Fitri train passengers drop

BANDUNG: The number of train passengers during the Idul Fitri holiday this year decreased by three percent compared to last year, an official said on Monday.

Patria Supriyoso of state railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia said the number of passengers reached 2.17 million from Nov. 15 to Dec. 5, while the figure was 2.26 million last year.

"But the figure is tentative, since we have not counted the last day of the holiday, Dec. 6," Patria was quoted by Antara as saying.

He said the decline was due to tight competition with other land transportation, such as buses, and air transportation.

Many companies in Jakarta had also provided free buses for their workers to return to their hometowns, he said. -- Antara